Special Populations Coordinator/e-Teacher

Description

Location: Colorado - Hybrid (Remote + In-Person as needed, primarily in Denver Metro or along urban corridor)

Who We Are

Zero Dropouts is dedicated to designing innovative student development opportunities in collaboration with school districts, communities, and students. Our mission is to co-create solutions that recognize, foster, and unleash students’ unrealized potential so that their lives are transformed as they thrive in their education and work.

Next GED+ Online is designed to serve highly mobile students and those who face barriers to in-person learning. Highly mobile students include those who frequently move due to housing instability, foster care placement, or family circumstances, as well as students experiencing homelessness, justice engagement, or mental and physical health challenges that make traditional schooling inaccessible. Many of our students balance work, caregiving responsibilities, or other commitments that require a more flexible educational model.

Unlike traditional online programs that can be isolating and entirely self-paced, Next GED+ Online is built to foster community and connection. Through a combination of flexible and personalized learning plans, live instruction, and ongoing support, students engage with teachers, peers, and mentors in meaningful ways. Our relationship-based approach ensures that students receive the academic and personal support they need to persist, complete their education, and transition successfully to postsecondary opportunities.

What We Believe

We Believe Mysteries are Opportunities
We are inspired to solve the deeply complex mysteries that face our world. Our innovative approach drives us to uncover hidden truths and create tailored solutions that address the unique challenges of our clients and communities.

We Believe in Anti-Deficit Ideology
Anti-deficit ideology focuses on recognizing and valuing the strengths, abilities, and potential of individuals and communities, rather than highlighting their shortcomings or deficiencies.

We Believe in a Sociocultural Model for Learning
People develop knowledge and skills through an active learning process that encourages interactions with teachers, peers, and their communities. We meet people where they are in their learning journeys, centering their experiences and identities in the process to foster both independent learning and collaboration.

We Believe in a ‘Power With’ Approach to Relationships
We use a ‘power with’ approach that emphasizes collaboration, mutual support, and collective empowerment in our relationships with youth, partners, and each other. Instead of hierarchical or competitive dynamics, it focuses on sharing power, fostering partnerships, and working together to achieve common goals.

We Believe Organizations are Living Systems
We believe that organizations and groups operate as dynamic living systems. This perspective emphasizes interdependence and collaboration, fostering resilience and adaptability. By nurturing supportive relationships and collective growth, we create conditions and environments where all members can thrive.

Who You Are

You are a builder, a designer, and a champion for students whose needs and strengths fall outside the traditional mold. You see “special populations” not as a label, but as a reminder that one-size-fits-all solutions rarely serve anyone well. You are energized by the opportunity to create, refine, and implement systems that ensure every learner—particularly those with IEPs, 504 plans, or MLE needs—receives the individualized support they deserve. 

You build trust quickly with youth, families, colleagues, and partner organizations, centering relationships and collaboration in your work. You are detail-oriented, organized, and proactive about compliance, but you never lose sight of the human stories behind the paperwork. You can navigate both the practicalities of documentation and the complexities of cross-district collaboration, communicating clearly and compassionately with diverse stakeholders. You are equally comfortable facilitating a virtual lesson, leading an IEP meeting, updating a student’s MLE goals, administering assessments, or helping a student and family secure needed accommodations.

Most importantly, you are excited by the blank canvas this brand new role offers. You are committed to Zero Dropouts’ mission and foundational beliefs: you view challenges as opportunities, see organizations as living systems, and are motivated to create environments where all students are seen, valued, and able to thrive. You embrace flexibility and change, and you’re ready to lead the way in designing processes that open doors for students who might otherwise be left behind.

Key Responsibilities

Instruction & Student Support

• Serve as an e-teacher for Next GED+ Online, delivering subject-area instruction and academic support to students.
• Provide direct support and instruction to students with IEPs, ensuring accommodations, modifications, and instructional strategies are implemented according to their plans.
• Deliver targeted support to multilingual learners, aligned with their Multilingual Education (MLE) goals.
  
  

Compliance & Collaboration

• Coordinate with partner schools and districts to ensure all IEPs and MLE assessments and progress monitoring for Next GED+ students are current and in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Partner with school/district teams to schedule and facilitate IEP and MLE meetings, assessments, and reviews of plans/goals.
• Write and/or update IEPs and conduct special education and MLE assessments as needed, ensuring alignment with student needs and district procedures.
  
  

Capacity Building

• Collaborate with other Next GED+ teachers to review and interpret students’ IEPs and MLE plans, providing training and guidance as needed to ensure fidelity of implementation.
• Serve as a resource for instructional staff regarding effective strategies, supports, and documentation for special populations.
  
  

Family & Student Advocacy

• Support Program Administrators, students, and families in navigating the process for requesting and securing GED Testing Service (GEDTS) accommodations.
• Communicate with families and students to clarify available supports, testing accommodations, and progress monitoring.
  
  

Hybrid Work & Direct Support

• Primarily serve in a remote capacity, but provide in-person support as needed (e.g., partner meetings, student assessments, testing facilitation, and required compliance activities).

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Current Special Education endorsement/certification and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) endorsements.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with secondary-level students with IEPs and MLE goals.
• Demonstrated knowledge of IEP and MLE compliance, writing, and assessment processes.
• Experience with virtual/online instruction and collaborative online platforms.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills; able to work independently and as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual (English/Spanish).
• Commitment to equity, anti-deficit perspectives, and inclusive educational practices.
• Ability to build and sustain positive relationships with students, families, and partner organizations.
• Flexible and adaptive; comfortable navigating hybrid work environments and dynamic student needs.
• Familiarity with GED Testing Service accommodations and procedures.
  
  

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please submit your application materials through our website .

WORK SCHEDULE & FLEXIBILITY: This is a full-time position, with staff generally working Monday through Friday. Live classes are hMLE Monday through Thursday, and this role may include evening teaching responsibilities 2–4 days per week (typically until 8:00 p.m.). The remainder of the schedule—including additional teaching or co-teaching, SPED/MLE coordination, meetings, and administrative tasks—will be designed in collaboration with the team based on student needs and program priorities. While the hours may be flexible, staff are expected to coordinate and communicate regularly to ensure effective coverage, shared responsibility, and sustainable workloads.

COMPENSATION: This is an exempt position with a salary based upon qualifications, knowledge, and relevant experience with a range is $65,000-80,000/year. Note: This represents the full salary range; new hires typically start on the lower end of the range to allow for development in the role.

BENEFITS: Company 401(k) plan with Employer Contribution Match, Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage, Paid Time Off (Sick Time, Holidays, Flexible Vacation), Life Insurance; Not PERA eligible.